Cable inlet device for a switchgear cabinet and arrangement and method for operating same

Abstract

A cable inlet device consists substantially of an open frame part and at least one sealing insert arranged therein. This cable inlet device is attached to a switchgear cabinet so that the sealing insert and the frame part of said cable inlet device terminate flush with said opening. When the switchgear cabinet is closed, for example by a switchgear cabinet door or switchgear cabinet wall or the like, this door or wall is sealingly pressed with a counterpart seal against the cable inlet device. For replacement of cables it is merely necessary for the switchgear cabinet door/switchgear cabinet wall to be opened and for the cable to be changed to be removed together with the corresponding sealing element, and for the new cable to be provided with a matching sealing element and to be inserted.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) for a switchgear cabinet (1), comprising: a rigid frame part (23, 23′, 23″), which, in order to be fastened in or the switchgear cabinet (1), has a fastening device, wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has an assembly face with an assembly seal (238) for sealing with respect to a switchgear cabinet wall (13) provided for this purpose as an assembly wall, and wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has a side face opposite the assembly face, wherein the assembly face and the side face are connected to one another via a front face (233), wherein the front face (233) runs level, in order, in an assembled state on a switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1), to terminate in a planar manner with a free edge of the assembly wall (13), wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has at least one U-shaped seal recess (236) starting on the front face (233) and extending into the frame part (23, 23′, 23″), wherein the cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) furthermore has at least one elastic sealing insert (22, 22′), insertable form fittingly and with frictional engagement into the corresponding seal recess (236) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) by its convex U shaped insert contour complementary to the seal recess, wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) has at least one continuous, cylindrical bushing opening (220) and an insertion slot (227) for inserting a cable into the cable bushing opening (220), wherein each sealing insert (22, 22′) furthermore has a level closing face (223), and wherein this closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′), in an inserted state thereof, terminates flush with the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″).

16. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) has, arranged on each side of its closing face (223), a collar (229), which in the inserted state runs linearly along a first longitudinal side of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″), for engaging around a counterpart seal (113) form-fittingly and with frictional engagement on both sides.

17. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) has at least two sealing inserts (22, 22′) that are identical to one another in respect of their outer contour, and wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has at least two seal recesses (236) that are identical to one another.

18. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least two of the sealing inserts (22, 22′) differ by a number and/or a diameter of their cable bushing openings (220).

19. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the sealing inserts (22, 22′) has, at its at least one cable bushing opening (220), at least on one side, a peripheral holding collar (221) as well as an annular fixing element for increasing a holding force when fixing the cable guided through.

20. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 19, wherein an outer diameter of the peripheral holding collar (221) increases towards its free end region, in order to hold the annular fixing element captively on the holding collar (221).

21. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the annular fixing element is a screwable clamp or a cable tie.

22. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein a material of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) has a Shore hardness of 30-40 Shore.

23. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) has, within its at least one cylindrical cable bushing opening (220), at least one sealing rib (202), in order to ensure a maximum holding force with respect to the cable guided through, in spite of the elasticity of the sealing insert (22, 22′).

24. The cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has a plurality of screw passages (230) as fastening device.

25. The cable inlet device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) has, as fastening device, either at least one detent window and at least one separate quick fastening device or at least one quick fastening device fixedly connected to the frame part (23, 23′, 23″).

26. An arrangement, comprising: at least one cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) as claimed in claim 15; and a switchgear cabinet (1) having a switchgear cabinet opening (10) and a switchgear cabinet closing element (11), by which the switchgear cabinet opening (10) can be closed, wherein the at least one cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) is attached in or on the switchgear cabinet (1) in a region of a wall aperture of an assembly wall (13) of the switchgear cabinet (1) and is pressed sealingly with its assembly seal (238) against this assembly wall (13), wherein the assembly seal (238) surrounds the wall aperture at least on three sides, wherein the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) together with the closing face (223) of its sealing inserts (22, 22′) adjoin the switchgear cabinet opening (10) in a manner planar with a free edge of the assembly wall (13) and is therefore pressed and thus sealed by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11) in a closed state against a counterpart seal (113) fastened to the switchgear cabinet closing element and running in a straight line.

27. The arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the switchgear cabinet closing element is a switchgear cabinet door that is attached to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) and can be closed shut and/or a plate that can be screwed to the switchgear cabinet (1) at the switchgear cabinet opening (10), and/or a switchgear cabinet wall (11) of the switchgear cabinet (1) that can be latched to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) or a switchgear cabinet lid that can be latched to the switchgear cabinet opening (10).

28. A method for operating the arrangement as claimed in claim 26, comprising the following steps: A. fastening at least one cable inlet device (2, 2′, 2″) with its frame part (23, 23′, 23″) from inside or from outside to the assembly wall (13) of the switchgear cabinet (1) at the wall aperture and directly to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1), so that the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″) terminates flush with a free edge of the assembly wall (13) and thus also with the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1); B. inserting at least one cable into at least one sealing insert (22, 22′); C. inserting the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) form fittingly and with frictional engagement into a seal recess (236) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″), so that the closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) terminates in a planar manner with the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″); and D. closing the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1) by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11), wherein the counterpart seal (113), fastened thereto and running in a straight line, at the same time is pressed sealingly by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11) against the closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22′) and against the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23′, 23″).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in detail hereinafter. In the drawings:

[0073] FIG. 1a, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1c, FIG. 1d, and FIG. 1e show a switchgear cabinet with a plurality of cable inlet devices in various views;

[0074] FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c, and FIG. 2d show a first cable inlet device with a frame part and a sealing insert in various views;

[0075] FIG. 2e and FIG. 2f show the sealing insert as a separate individual part in various views;

[0076] FIG. 3a shows a second frame part as a separate individual part;

[0077] FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c show a second cable inlet device with the second frame part and four different sealing inserts in various views;

[0078] FIG. 3d and FIG. 3e show the second cable inlet device with amended equipping in various views;

[0079] FIG. 3f shows the second cable inlet device with a counterpart seal;

[0080] FIG. 4a shows an individual modified sealing insert; and

[0081] FIG. 4b shows a third cable inlet device with three modified sealing inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] The figures contain partly simplified, schematic illustrations. Sometimes, identical reference signs have been used for like, but possibly non-identical elements. Different views of like elements may be scaled differently.

[0083] FIGS. la to le show an arrangement for the switchgear cabinet 1 with a plurality of cable inlet devices 2, 2′ screwed onto the switchgear cabinet from outside, specifically a first and a second cable inlet device 2, 2′. Here, it should be noted that this illustration is schematic and merely describes the principal structure of the arrangement as clearly as possible. In other, particularly realistic embodiments, the edge lengths of the switchgear cabinet opening may be much larger than in the case of the shown switchgear cabinet opening 10, thus resulting in significantly more space for attachment of further cable inlet devices 2, 2′.

[0084] In FIG. 1a, the switchgear cabinet 1 is shown from a vertical view looking at its rear wall 13, onto which the cable inlet devices 2, 2′ have been screwed from outside.

[0085] Furthermore, the switchgear cabinet 1 has four side walls 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″, of which a first side wall 11 can be seen particularly well in FIG. 1B and functions as a switchgear cabinet closing element, that is to say closes the switchgear cabinet opening 10 in this illustration.

[0086] FIG. 1c shows a plan view of a section through the first cable inlet device 2. Here, it can be clearly seen how the first side wall 11 protrudes beyond the rear wall 13 in order to be pressed sealingly against a closing face 223 of a sealing insert 22 of the cable insertion device 2.

[0087] FIG. 1d shows a switchgear cabinet opening 10, since the first switchgear cabinet wall 11 has been removed. The view of the inner side of a front wall 12 of the switchgear cabinet 1 through the switchgear cabinet opening 10 has been freed. It can also be seen particularly well from this view that the cable inlet devices 2, 2′ are each attached to a lateral wall aperture of the rear wall 13, which is located directly on a free edge of the rear wall 13, whereby the wall aperture is open towards the switchgear cabinet opening 10.

[0088] FIG. 1e shows the same arrangement with a vertical view of the switchgear cabinet opening 10.

[0089] The rear wall 13 of the switchgear cabinet 1 serves in this embodiment as an assembly wall. The rear wall 13 therefore has the lateral wall apertures, at the region of each of which there is attached a cable inlet device 2, 2′, in this case from outside. In an alternative embodiment, the same cable inlet devices 2, 2′, however, could also be attached to the rear wall 13 from the inside, i.e., inside the switchgear cabinet 1. By closing the switchgear cabinet 1 by means of the first side wall 11, the cable inlet devices 2, 2′ are sealed, thus also ultimately sealing the switchgear cabinet 1.

[0090] In other switchgear cabinet designs, not shown here, the same cable inlet devices 2, 2′, however, could also be arranged for example at wall apertures of a side wall and could be sealed by a rear wall or alternatively a front wall by closing same. The rear wall of the front wall would then in each case have the function of a switchgear cabinet closing element, whereas the side wall, which would then have the wall apertures, would serve as an assembly wall.

[0091] The cable inlet devices 2, 2′, 2″ described in greater detail hereinafter are advantageously useable independently of this and therefore in an extremely versatile manner also on the aforementioned switchgear cabinets and in principle also a wide range of different switchgear cabinets.

[0092] FIGS. 2a-2d show the first cable inlet device 2 in four different views. This first cable inlet device 2 has a frame part 23 with just one single seal recess 236 and accordingly has also just one single sealing insert 22.

[0093] FIG. 2a shows the first cable inlet device 2 in a lateral cross-section. In this illustration, it can be clearly seen that the sealing insert 22 has, at its cable bushing opening 220, a holding collar 221 with a funnel 222.

[0094] FIG. 2b shows the first cable inlet device 2 in a side view, specifically with a view of the side face, not provided with a reference sign, of the frame part 23 of said device. For manufacturing reasons, the frame part 23 has cavities on this side face.

[0095] The frame part 23 also has a level front face 233 arranged at right angles to the side face. This front face 233 is interrupted by the concave, U-shaped sealing recess 236, which extends from the front face 233 into the frame part 23.

[0096] The sealing insert 22 inserted by its convex, U-shaped insert contour form-fittingly and with frictional engagement into the seal recess 236 also has a level closing face 223, which terminates in a planar manner with the front face 233 of the frame part 23. In addition, the sealing insert22 has a continuous cylindrical cable bushing opening 220 and an insertion slot 227 for inserting a cable into the cable bushing opening

[0097] As the fastening device, the frame part 23 has a plurality of, in this embodiment two, screw passages 230, which run starting from the assembly side in the direction of the side face, that is to say in the viewing direction in FIG. 2b.

[0098] In another embodiment, the frame part 23 can be fastened to the assembly face of the switchgear cabinet 1, instead of by the aforementioned screwing, also in the form of a quick-fastening technique, specifically by means of one or more quick-fastening devices, although these are not shown in the drawing.

[0099] FIG. 2c shows the cable inlet device 2 in a plan view.

[0100] FIG. 2d shows the cable inlet device 2 in an oblique plan view of said side face, not provided with a reference sign. Opposite the side face, the frame part 23 has an assembly face, which likewise is not provided with a reference sign and which is provided for assembly on the assembly wall, that is to say in this embodiment the rear wall 13 of the switchgear cabinet 1. An assembly seal 238 arranged peripherally on three sides is arranged in the assembly face of the frame part 23 and can be seen here merely suggestively—and, in slightly modified form, particularly well in FIGS. 3d and 3e which will follow later.

[0101] FIGS. 2e and 2f show the sealing element 22 as a separate individual part. In FIG. 2e the holding collar 221 and the funnel 222 of the sealing element 22 can be seen particularly well.

[0102] An annular fixing element can be arranged on the annularly peripheral holding collar 221, but is not shown in the drawing. In one embodiment, the annular fixing element is a screwable clamp. In another embodiment, it is a cable tie. The fixing element serves to increase the holding force for the fixing of the cable, which likewise is not shown and is guided through the cable bushing 220.

[0103] As a result of the funnel 222, the diameter of the holding collar 221 increases towards its free end region. The annular fixing element, not shown, can thus be held captively on the holding collar 221.

[0104] FIGS. 3a-3f show a second cable inlet device 2′.

[0105] In particular, a second frame part 23′ is shown in FIG. 3a as a separate individual part. This part 23′ has four identical seal recesses 236 of the aforementioned kind. The front face 233 can be seen between the seal recesses 236. In other words, the front face 233 is interrupted multiple times by the seal recesses 236. Positioning recesses 234 are arranged at each of the seal recesses 236. In this case, the positioning recesses each run in the form of a channel through the inner edge of the entire concave, U-shaped seal recess 236 and are arranged with their ends in the front face 233.

[0106] As shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c, different sealing inserts 22 can then be inserted into the seal recesses 236.

[0107] The sealing inserts each have, at least on their closing face 224, at least one integrally molded positioning shaping 224, in this case an integrally molded positioning shaping that runs peripherally around the insertion contour of the sealing insert. This integrally molded positioning shaping tool 224 engages at least form-fittingly, and in particular form-fittingly and with frictional engagement, in the associated positioning recess 234 of the associated seal recess 236 in order to exactly position the sealing insert 22 in question.

[0108] Although the four sealing inserts 22 shown here differ in the size and/or number of their cable passage openings 220 and in the length of their insertion slots 227, they are provided with the same reference sign, since they are equal to one another and additionally also have a comparable function.

[0109] FIGS. 3d and 3e further show the second cable inlet device 2′, but with the slight difference that some of the sealing inserts 22 have been swapped in comparison to the previous illustrations or have been exchanged for other sealing inserts 22.

[0110] Since these sealing inserts 22 have the same basic shape in comparison to one another, that is to say the same U-shaped insert contour and the same closing face 223, and furthermore the seal recesses 236 of the frame parts 23, 23′ 23″ also match one another. These sealing inserts 22 can be exchanged arbitrarily for one another, specifically depending on the requirements, which is of course extremely advantageous for reasons of compatibility.

[0111] In these two illustrations, the assembly seal 238, already mentioned briefly, of the frame part 23 can also be seen clearly. The assembly seal 238 is held in a U-shaped sealing groove of the assembly side and engages around the seal recesses 236 on three sides. As a result of the assembly seal 238, the assembly face is defined, i.e., the outer face of the frame part 2′ in which the assembly seal 238 is arranged is considered to be the assembly face.

[0112] Lastly, the frame part 23 is intended to be pressed with its assembly face, and thus also with its assembly seal 238, sealingly in the region of the particular wall aperture against the assembly wall, that is to say in this case against the rear wall 13 of the switchgear cabinet 1.

[0113] FIG. 3f shows the second cable insertion device 2′ in its sealed state, fitted on the switchgear cabinet 1, with a view from the direction of the switchgear cabinet closing element, that is to say in this case of the first side part 11, in section through a counterpart seal 113, which runs in a straight line and which is attached on the inner side to the switchgear cabinet closing element (side part 11).

[0114] Here, it is easily conceivable how the counterpart seal 113 is pressed, by the closing of the switchgear cabinet by means of the switchgear cabinet closing element—that is to say in this embodiment by the side wall 11—against a level contact face of the cable inlet device 2′, wherein the contact face is formed from the front face 233 of the frame part 23 and the closing face 223 of the sealing inserts 22.

[0115] In the shown illustration, the counterpart seal 113 is narrower than said contact face. In another embodiment, the counterpart seal 113, however, can also be just as broad as the closing face 223 of the sealing insert 22.

[0116] FIG. 4a shows a slightly modified sealing insert 22′ in a slightly modified embodiment. This sealing insert has a particularly high sealing effect. On either side of the closing face 223, it has a collar 229 running in a straight line. If the counterpart seal 113, as indicated previously, is now just as broad as the closing face 223, the counterpart seal can thus be inserted form-fittingly and in particular also form-fittingly and with frictional engagement, between the two collars 229 and can be pressed against the closing face 223, thus improving the quality of the seal significantly. What's more, the sealing effect is significantly improved also with only one-sided contact of the counterpart seal 113 with one of the two collars 229.

[0117] In addition, the modified sealing insert 22′, as well as the sealing insert 22 mentioned beforehand, has two sealing ribs 202 within its cable through-opening 220. A sufficient holding force with respect to a cable guided through is thus maintained even if the sealing insert 22′ consists of a particularly elastic material, for example with a Shore hardness of 20-30 Shore.

[0118] Furthermore, the integrally molded positioning shapings 224′ are slightly lengthened compared to the aforementioned embodiment, at least in the region of the closing face 223.

[0119] From FIG. 4b with a view of the side face of a third embodiment of the frame part 23″ of a third cable inlet device 2″, the following is evident:

[0120] Also in the front face 233 of the third frame part 23″, the positioning recesses 234′ are enlarged compared to the aforementioned embodiment and are directly adjacent to one another. The integrally molded positioning shapings 224′ of adjacent sealing inserts 22′ in the installed state are thus directly adjacent to one another, which in the sealed state, that is to say with counterpart seal 113 pressed thereagainst, allows a particularly strong seal.

[0121] Although the figures show different aspects or features of the invention in combination, it is evident to a person skilled in the art—unless stated otherwise—that the shown and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, units or feature combinations corresponding to one another from different exemplary embodiments can be swapped for one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0122] 1 switchgear cabinet

[0123] 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″ side walls

[0124] 12 front wall

[0125] 13 rear wall

[0126] 2, 2′, 2″ cable inlet device

[0127] 22, 22′ (modified) sealing insert

[0128] 220 cable bushing opening

[0129] 221 holding collar

[0130] 222 funnel

[0131] 223 closing face

[0132] 224, 224′ integrally molded positioning shapings

[0133] 227 insertion slot

[0134] 229 collar

[0135] 23, 23′, 23″ frame part

[0136] 230 screw passage

[0137] 233 front face

[0138] 234, 234′ positioning recesses

[0139] 236 seal recess